Air Actions, Nevada

Reno, Nevada Particulate Matter (PM-10)

Finding of Failure to Attain by 2001 and Clean Data Finding

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has finalized its February 28, 2000 proposal (76 FR 10817) regarding attainment determinations in Reno, Nevada (Washoe County) for airborne dust (particulate matter of 10 microns or less, PM-10). On April 19, 2010, EPA published a determination that Truckee Meadows area (Reno) the failed to attain the 24-hour PM-10 by the applicable attainment date (2001). We also determined that Reno PM-10 area is currently attaining based on 2007-2009 air quality data. EPA also suspended several planning requirements related to attainment under the Clean Air Act (CAA) as long as the area continues to attain the standard.

The federal ambient health-based standard for PM-10: a 24-hour standard of 150 ug/m3 (micrograms per cubic meter). The Truckee Meadows area monitored two exceedances of the PM-10 standard in 1999, thereby violating the PM-10 standard for the period from 1999-2001. However, the area has not exceeded the PM-10 standard since 1999. The PM-10 monitoring network in Washoe County shows the Truckee Meadows area is currently attaining the PM-10 standard. Based on our review of the most recent three years (2007-2009) of complete, quality-assured data, we determined that the area is currently attaining the 24-hour PM-10 NAAQS.

Below are links to fact sheets and the official Notices of Rulemakings as published in the Federal Register on February 28, 2011 and April 19, 2011, respectively.

For further information, please contact Karina O’Connor (oconnnor.karina@epa.gov), Office of Air Planning, U.S. EPA, Region 9 at (775) 434-8176.

Past EPA Actions

Finding of Failure to Attain and Reclassification

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has finalized its November 22, 2000 proposal (65 FR 70326) to find that the Reno, Nevada (Washoe County) nonattainment area fails to meet federal health standard for airborne dust (particulate matter of 10 microns or less, PM-10). Specifically, the EPA found that the Reno nonattainment area did not meet its 1994 deadline, under the federal Clean air Act (CAA), for attaining the PM-10 standard. In addition, the area currently does not meet the PM-10 standard. The area’s status will be reclassified and downgraded from moderate to serious. New air quality plans will be required for the area in order to help the area attain the PM-10 standard no later than December 31, 2001.

Below are links to fact sheets, a news release for the proposed action and the official Notices of Proposed and Final Rulemakings as published in the Federal Register on November 22, 2000 and January 8, 2001, respectively.

For further information, please contact Doris Lo (lo.doris@epa.gov), Office of Air Planning, U.S. EPA, Region 9 at (415) 972-3959.